Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the East Central Georgia News publication area submitted 95 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.9%.
While the Educational Services industry led the H-1B filings with 54 petitions, representing 56.8% of all submissions in the East Central Georgia News publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, which accounted for 17 petitions and represented 17.9% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, all were approved.
Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the East Central Georgia News publication area saw a 75% increase in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Services | 54 | 56.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17 | 17.9% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 12 | 12.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 7 | 7.4% | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 5 | Retail Trade | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 1.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bor Usga Obo Augusta University | Educational Services | 55 | 100% | 0% |
| Au Medical Associates, Inc. | Health Care and Social Assistance | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Ambio, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Cranston, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Wills Memorial Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Augusta Sportswear, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Rhodes Financial Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Cooper Machine Company, Inc. | Manufacturing | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| FPL Foods, LLC | Manufacturing | 2 | 0% | 100% |
| Hospital Authority of Jefferson Company | Health Care and Social Assistance | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Southeast Retina Center, PC | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Pray Services, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Ocozzio, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Manus Bio, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Management Analysis and Utilization, Inc. | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Jefferson County Board of Education | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hashkey Global Incorporated | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hagler Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Club Car, LLC | Retail Trade | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Au Health Systems, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| ACM Georgia, LLC | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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